Before we talk about major events like the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek Strike, the Matewan Massacre, and the Battle of Blair Mountain, we need to understand how a full-blown worker insurrection comes to be. In this episode we contextualize the violence that was inherent in West Virginia's company coal towns. They really had it all: stolen wages, police in the pockets of coal companies, freedoms of speech and assembly non-existent, forced evictions, intimidation, beatings, and murders. There's a reason that workers felt they had no other option than to fight back. We also learn about labor leaders Frank Keeney, Fred Mooney, Sarah Blizzard, and Mother Jones and discuss the UMWA's prior activity and challenges in the region. Buckle up, because this is the start of a wild ride.

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Credits: Creator, Host, Social Media, Art, Music, General Chaos Sower: Dakota Saunders